Flow-meter of the venturi type.



R. H. RICE. FLOW METER OF THE VENTURI TYPE. APPLICATION FILED NOV.O,1912.

i fi i fia Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

Witnesse 1% device which menace.

Application filed November 9,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD H. Rica, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Lynn,'county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flowdrleters of the Vern turi Type, of which the-following is a specification. h

This invention relates to instruments for indicating andrecording the flow of fluids through conduits, and especially to that type in which the velocity head of the fluid is converted into'a pressure head and caused to act upon a pressure-responsive device to disp ay visible indications of the changes in said pressure due to varying flow of the fluid. Among the devices employed for converting velocity into pressure-is the well known Venturi tube, composed of two frusto conical gently tapering sections of conduitwith their adjacent smaller ends connected by a short cylindrical section, or throat. The difference between the static pressures in the full sized conduit and the narrow throat is indicated by the difierence in level between two uprightmercury columns having their upper ends connected respectively to. these two portions of the conduit, and communicating at their lower ends. The total length of the meter. is from eight to sixteen times the largest diameter, while the diameter of thethroat should be from one half to one fourth that of the conduit.

In practical engineering it is often difiicult and expensive to install a Venturi meter, as several lengths of the conduit must be taken out and the special tapering sections put in. Q

The object ofmy invention is to provide a can be inserted in a length of ordinary cylindrical conduit, and convert it into a Venturi tube; the difference being that the fluid flows through said tube in an annular stream instead of a solid one. The

1,and Fig; 3 is an elevation of a portion efl'ect, however, is absolutely the same, in that the'sarne difference in pressures 1S set up,

which can be measured by the same manometer.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a longitudinal section of a conduit for fluid containing my improved Venturi meter. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2, Fig.

Specification of F This shape is one which has lo of this throat should be not over one-n it showing slight modification. of ii? member. 1,

The sec ion 1 of the conduit is of the same external diameter and appearance other'sections thereof; in fact, it may i length of the regular conduit pipe. I of this section is a filling member 2, 1 ably a hollow spindle, with its eter near its upstream end it is suppoi centrally in the pipesecticn 1 by means or radial stays 3 whose ends are secured to h pipe, preferably by screws The l member is provided w h a somevv nose 5, which is preferably rounded in Fig. 1 though it may be conical, as in Fig 3, if desired. For a short d back of the nose, the filling member preferably -cylindrical portion '6, after it tapers o gradually to a pointed various experimenters to offer the least sistance to fluid flow. r

The external diameter of the portion}? i. such as to leave a narrow annular pass: or throat 8 between it and the internal face of the pipe section 1, The radial of the internal radius of? the conduit. will give it an area of about one-iiiiti of said conduit, which is sufllcient' to material drop in pressure from existing in the conduit proper, 2553 A. high pressure nozzle 9 is inserteo in 1'; conduit in advance of the nose of 'ie fill member and is connected to one U-sha'p'ed manometer 10, the otl which is connected to the low pressure zle l1 entering the annular throat gage 12 may be provided to give the pressure in said annular throat.

The advantages of this form of Venturi meter are, that it avoids the necessity of using a special section of pipe, as any ordinary straight section can be used, the filling memher being preferably al'iout the same length as such section, so that the radial stay in be easily accessible, from the ends of: said section for purposes of assembling or repair. Moreover the filling member and the pres sure nozzles can be removed froin the pipe if desired, and the conduit will then serve its ordinary purposes, Without intericrence with the flow. The \"enturi meter as custoniz'uily' made has t to or more joints uniting the several part of its hour-glass shaped conduit. My invention entirely dispenses with these joints. Furthermore, it is not expensive to build, and can be quickly installed when desired In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means;

A Venturi meter having a cylindrical conduit, and a spindle shaped filling member therefor having tapering ends, and having its largest diameter near one end of said member whereby it forms with said conduit a Ventur-i section.

4. A Venturimeter having a cylindrical conduit, and a filling member therefor having a rounded blunt nose, and a long tapermg tail.

5. A Venturi meter having a cylindrical conduit, a spindle shaped filling member therefor having tapering ends, and radial stays securing said member centrally in said conduit.

portion forming with said conduit an annular throat.

7. A Venturi meter having a cylindrical conduit, a spindle shaped filling member therefor having tapering ends and aiiording with said conduit an annular throat, a pressure nozzle in advanwof said member, a pressure nozzle entering said annular throat, and a pressure-responsive device connected with said'nozzles. a

8. The combination with a conduit composed of straight cylindrical sections, of a removable Spindle shaped filling member fer one 01.- said sections, having tapering ends and affording with said conduit a narrow annular passage tofunction' with the said section as a Venturi meter throat.

In Witness whereof, I have hereutno set my hand this sixth day of November, 1912.

RICHARD H. RICE.

W itncsses 

